West Ham midfielder Declan Rice is very unlikely to hand in a transfer request at the end of the season, according to the Daily Star journalist Paul Brown.
Manchester United are now favourites to sign the England international ahead of Chelsea, due to the Blues’ ownership situation, but Brown says the chances of Rice forcing through a move to Old Trafford or another club are slim:
“I don’t think he is someone who is going to force his way out with a formal transfer request or any particular demands, but they’re at a point where he probably isn’t going to sign a new contract because he wants to test the water.”
While it appears that Rice may be open to leaving the London Stadium, it looks as though the Red Devils would have to pay through the nose to get him.
It is widely assumed that the 23-year-old would cost in excess of £100m and, while United do desperately need to strengthen in the middle of the park, breaking the club’s transfer record is unlikely to be considered.
Cheaper alternatives, such as Monaco’s Aurelien Tchouameni, could well be looked at if, as expected, Rice turns out to be too expensive.
